Discharger for projectiles



Jan. 8, 1935. R. c. COUPLAND DISCHARGER FOR PROJECTILES Filed Aug. 15, 1952 Ihventnr Richard Eflpuplani Patented Jan. 8, 1935 A STATES PATENT oFricE 1,986,794 DISCHARGER FOR-PROJEOTILES Richard G. Coupland, United States Army, 1 Norfolk Va'l I he;'invention -described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a discharger for projectiles such as grenades and pyrotechnic signals.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a discharger which may be conveniently mounted on the butt of a rifle and supported on the ground when it is to be operated.

A further object is toprovide a light and compact weapon which possesses only a few parts and may be inexpensively constructed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. l

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section on the line1-1 of Fig. 2 of the improved discharger mounted on a support.

Fig. 2 is a view in right side elevation of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are sectional views taken on the respective lines of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 6 is a View showing the discharger on a rifle.

There is shown a receiver 5 which is preferably of a light-weight metal such as aluminum and is formed with a socket 6 at one side of its longitudinal axis. The socket conforms in shape substantially to the butt end 7 of the shoulder stock 8 of a rifle and has an inclined floor 9 to facilitate mounting on the rifle. When thus assembled the axis of the receiver is substantially perpendicular to the axis ofthe rifle.

A recess 10 opening into the socket houses a 1 bell crank lever 11 mounted on a. pivot pin 12.

The, lower arm 11a of the lever is adapted to engage the side of the butt 7 while the upper arm 111) which is generally parallel to the rear face of the butt is formed with a bifurcated upper extremity 110. A T-bolt whose shank 13 is disposed between the bifurcated extremity to place its head 14 forwardly thereof, extends through an aperture 15 into a recess 16 in the rear face of the receiver. A washer 1'7 and a wing nut 18 mounted on the threaded end of the bolt and housed in the recess l6 serves to retract the upper armcllb of the lever and bring the lower centrally in the base has an aperture 26 to permit passage therethrough of the firing pin. The floor or base 27 of the cup projects into the barrel and is preferably tapered to facilitate the centering of a projectile 28 which is a combina tion hand and rifle grenade or pyrotechnic signal and is adapted to be inserted in the barrel through the muzzle.

The mechanism for actuating the hammer comprises a bell crank lever 29 mounted on a pivot pin 30 and. normally disposed in a recess 31 formed in a portion of the receiver at one side of the butt of the rifle and opening towards the muzzle of the rifle. One arm 29a of the lever has a stud 32 on its extremity which is insertable in a recess 33 in the lower portion of the hammer whereby the hammer isreciprocated when the lever is rocked. The other arm 29b of the lever has an aperture 34 for attachment of a lanyard 35. A spring 36 anchored in the receiver acts on the arm 29a of the lever to normally hold the hammer in the retracted position.

As shown in Fig. 6 when the discharger is to be I employed it is clamped onto the rifle and manipulated so that the base of the receiver will be supported on the ground or some suitable structure. The operator grasping the barrel of the gun inclines and turns the gun so that the discharger will be pointed at a desired elevation and direction. The piece is fired by merely pulling the lanyard.

When detached from the rifle the discharger may be carried in a holster similar to the holster provided for pistols and revolvers.

Troops not equipped with the rifle will use an appropriate substitute.

I claim:

1. In combination with a support, a discharger having a socket at one side of the longitudinal axis for receiving one end of the support and having a recess opening into the socket, a bell crank lever disposed in the recess and pivotally on the bolt engageable with the discharger whereby the lever may be moved and held in engagement with the support, a firing mechanism carried by the discharger in rear of the socket and means housed in the discharger at one side of the socket for actuating the firing pin.

2. In combination with a support, a discharger having a socketatone side of its longitudinal axis for receiving one end of the support and having a recess opening into the socket, a bell crank lever disposed in the recess andapivotally carried by the discharger, a bolt carried by the discharger and engageable with the 'lev'rfla nut 'on the bolt engageable with the discharger Whereb'y'the lever may be moved and held in "engagement with the support.

3. In combination with a support, a dischargei" having a socket for receiving one end of the support and having a recess opening into'the socket a bell crank lever disposed in the recess and pivotally carried ::by. a the dis'charger, fa w-bolt fcarried mounted in the base of the barrel and having an opening for the firing pin, and a lever housed in the'recei'ver'atone side of the cavity and engageable with the hammer.

A discharger embodying a receiver having a cavity and a counterbore, a hammer in the cavity, a firing pin fixed in the hammer, a barrel mounted in the counterbore, an inverted cup mounted in the base of the barrel and having an opening for the firing pin, and means for actuating the hammer. p

v I 'RICHARD "C. C'OUPLAND. 

